Micro-Credentials as Evidence of Preparation for Future Learning: An Ideation and Design Workshop

该项目将召开一个研讨会，重点讨论数字微证书，也被称为数字徽章，以及它们在高风险的大学录取过程中可能扮演的角色。数字微型证书是扩大受教育人数不足群体接受高等教育机会的一种潜在机制。数字微证书使学生能够更广泛地将自己视为学习者，将他们生活的不同领域联系起来：学术、社交和个人兴趣驱动。因此，数字微证书使学生能够以超越传统高中平均成绩和标准化考试分数的方式代表专业知识和潜力。讲习班讨论了以下问题：微型证书能否作为有效和可靠的学习手段？微凭据可以填补当前评估实践中的哪些“空白”？微证书需要什么才能成为大学招生过程中未来学习准备的证据？该项目的主要研究人员将使用来自芝加哥学习城网络(chicagocityoflearning.org)和纽约市鼠标(Mouse)的案例研究，以更好地了解在以STEM为重点的课外活动中使用微证书进行学习的情况。在工作坊期间，具有学生学习专长的参与者将从不同的角度设计学生所展示的知识或技能的展示。参与的招生官员和STEM教职员工将就这些设计如何很好地证明学生为未来学习做好准备的证据进行评论。研讨会的成果将包括微型凭证的样本设计，这些设计展示了促进学习和支持大学招生的前景。讲习班还将产生一份白皮书，讨论来自代表性不足群体的青年在STEM领域录取大学的微型证书的潜力。

This project will convene a workshop focused on digital micro-credentials, also known as digital badges, and the role they might play in the high-stakes process of college admission. Digital micro-credentials represent one potential mechanism for broadening access for underrepresented groups to higher education. Digital micro-credentials enable students to present a broader view of themselves as learners that connects different domains of their lives: academic, social, and personal interest-driven. As such, digital micro-credentials enable students to represent expertise and potential in ways that go beyond traditional high school grade point averages and standardized test scores. The workshop addresses questions such as: Can micro-credentials serve as valid and reliable measures of learning? What "gap" in current assessment practices can be filled by micro-credentials? What is required for micro-credentials to be useful as evidence of preparation for future learning in the college admission process?The project's principal investigators will employ case studies, drawn from the Chicago City of Learning network (chicagocityoflearning.org) and Mouse (mouse.org) in New York City, to better understand the use of micro-credentials for learning in STEM-focused extracurricular activities. During the workshop, participants with expertise in student learning from a range of perspectives will design representations of the knowledge or skills demonstrated by students. Participating admissions officers and STEM faculty will critique the designs with respect to how well the designs demonstrate evidence of preparation for future learning by students. The workshop outcomes will include sample designs of micro-credentials that show promise to both promote learning and support college admissions. The workshop will also result in a white paper discussing the potential of micro-credentials for college admission in STEM fields by youth from underrepresented groups.